Lunch-counter structure



May 11 ,1926. 1,584,035

l.. L. KNOX LUNCH COUNTER STRUCTURE Filed April 19, 1924 CII f Pafehfed May 11,1926.

UNITED STATESl PATENT LUTHER L. KNOX, 0F BELLEVUE, :PENNSYLVANIA LUNCH-COUNTER' STRUCTURE.

Application filed April 19, 1924. Serial No. 707,549.

My invention consists in a new and improved lunch-counter for restaurants in which are combined an eating table for patrons, a service counter for 'the attendants, and display ineais for articles of food.

The most successful quick-service restaurants are locatedin the business sections of the communities where rents are high and space at a premium, and the object which I have in view is to provide'a lunch counter with which a. large number of persons may be rapidly and satisfactorily fed within a limited space.

Generally speaking, my improved lunch counter comprises a counter top whose front portion forms an ,eating table and its rear portionA a service counter with a food display separating the same. The counter top is a relatively wide, horizontal surface of the length desired and preferably, as where the restaurant occupies a long, narrow room, of elongated U shape, having two parallel legs connected at the front end by an arcuate portion. The counter top may be of wood, marble, metal or opaque glass. Its support is preferably a vertical base which 'is set backfrom its outer edge suiiiciently to provide clearance for the feet of patrons. 'Iransversely disposed partitions extending from said base wall toward. the rear edge of the counter top also assist in its support.

The front and rear portions of the counter top areseparated by the means for display# ing food. This means is preferably a ver- Vtical shield partition formed of transparent glass, and preferably from eight to twelve inches high. Said shield exten-ds the length of'the counter and divides it into portions which are preferably of about equal width, the front portion forming the eating table at' which the patrons sit or stand, and the rear portion forming the service counter for the attendants.

As a modification I may elevate the food display means on legs or standards above the`v counter top and intermediate of its width, such means serving to divide the counter top longitudinally into an eating table and a service counter. v

In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the-principles of myA invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a U shaped lunch counter embodying my invention and designed for use in. a long, narrow room; Figs. 2, 3, 4

and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken along the dotted lines II-II; III-III, IV-IV, and V-V, respectively, and Fig. 6 is a similar section showing a modification. The `following is a detailed description ofthe drawings, reference being rst had to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

A represents the horizontal counter top which may be of any suitable material, but

which is preferably opaque. The same may be elevated for patrons who stand while eating, but I prefer to make it low enough' to enable patrons to sit on stools 1. The counter top A is substantially supported in place. Thus B fis a base walllextending up from the floor and supporting the counter top along a longitudinal line. Incase the patrons are to sit when eating the base wall r1B should be stepped rearwardly sufficiently to provide fclearance for the lower limbs. Where the patrons are to stand said wall Gti may be positioned nearer the front, thus* provlding more storage room 1n its rear.-

The counter top A is further supported by transversely disposed walls or partitions G extending rearwardly from the base wall B..

The counter top A is divided longitudinally by a vertically disposed transparent glass wall D, extending for substantially the full length of the counter. D I call the shield.

-In the embodiment ofmy invention illustrated in thedrawings, the counter top is about thirty inches from the oor and is about three feet wide and the shield is posi- This wall tioned at approximately the longitudinal center of the counter top and is-about eight inches high. The shield D divides the counter topA into an eating table 2 for the patrons and a service counter 3 for the at- 'tendants sired, be used for the display of foods, but

I prefer to keep it relatively clear, so that the attendants may deliver thereon foods ordered by the patrons who remove the same therefrom to the eating table. Beneath the top shelf E I provide one or more additional what wider than the top shelf to facilitate placing on the shelf or' shelves F foodsl for display, such as cuts of pie, etc. Foods may also be displayed on the service counter 3 under the shelf F.

While the shield D extends for substantially the full length of the counter, the shelves E and F are interrupted at intervals to provide clearance for the tea and coffee urns G and the butter portioning machines H and such other service mechanisms as it is desired to mount on the service counter.

At one or more placesthe service counter 3 is apertured or cut away, as at 4, Fig. 4, to rovide access to the'trays I in which chi ed food, such as salads, are displayed. Such trays may be open top boxes, as shown in Fig. 4, provided with false bottoms 5 under which are placed the refrigerating coils 6.

In other places, as shown in Fig. 5, the Service counter 3 is also cut away, as at 7, Fig. 5, for access from above to milk cans J, ice cream containers or the like, which may be placed under the service counter.

The space under other portions of the service counter may be provided with shelves K, as shown in Figs.f2 and 3, and also below the salad tra I in Fig. 2, or with drawers, as shown at in Fig. 6.

It is evident that portions of the space under the service counter may be provided with sliding drawers, or cupboard doors.'

In Fig. 6 I have shown the shield wall D elevated above the counter top so that food may be passed under the same from the serv-v ice counter 3 to the eating table 2. Thus, M represents a transparent glass plate supported from the counter top A on the legs S. The shield D and the top and intermediate shelvesE and F extend rearwardly from the shield D. In this case the shelves E' and D may be of the same width as the plate M. In this modication it is preferable to elevate the plate M suicientl so.

that the attendants may, while stan ing, look under the same and see the food before the patrons on the eating table. The plate M, and the shelves E and F are usedfor the display of foods.

It is apparent that my im roved lunch counter structure provides t e necessary facilities for quick-service restaurants within a very limited space. The usual center stands or tables for coi'ee urns, butter portioning machines and food displays are omitted, and the functions thereof performed by the lunch counter proper. Thus a room too narrow fora lrnch counter with center stands and tables, can be fitted with my inventionl and put into successful quicklunch' use. Not only may a substantial saving in rent be thus accomplished, but the cost of Vfitting up the restaurant is greatly rants, comprising a wide counter having an 4inner service portion andan outer eating table portion of suitable width to enable patrons to eat thereat, said counter being supported at a suitable height above the serving floor to enable the attendant to serve the eatin table from behind the service portion, an a transparent food protector extendingintermediate the service portion and the eating table portion, said transparent protector being arranged to allow the attendant to serve food to and remove dishes from the eating'table portion while standing behind the service portion.

2. A combined service counter, eating table and food display structure for restaurants, comprising a wide counter having an inner service portion and an outer eating table portion of suitable width to enable patrons y`to eat thereat, said counter being supported at a suitable height above the serving floor to enable the attendant to serve the eatin table from behind the service portion, an a transparent food protector extending intermediate the service portion and the eating table portion, said transparent protector having a horizontally extending transparent shelf and beingarranged to allow the attendant to serve food to andremove dishes from the eating table portion while standing behind the-service portion.

3. A `combined service counter, eating table and food display structure for restaurants, 'comprising a wide counter having an inner service portion and an outer eating table portion of suitable width to enable patrons to 'eat thereat, said counter being supported at asuitable height above the serving floor to enable the attendant to serve the eating table from behind the service portion, an .a transparent food protector extending upwardly rom the counter intermediate the service portion and the eating table portion and having a glass shelf extending backwardly toward the service portion.

4. A combined service counter, eating table and food display structure for restaurants, comprising a wide counter having an inner servlce portion and an outer eating tableportion of suitable width to enable.

patrons to eat thereat,` sid counter being supported at a. suitable height above theserving Hoor to enable the attendant to servo 5 the eatin table from behind the service portion, an tending upwardly from the counter intern mediate the servieevportion and theveating a transparent food protector ex'a tabl-e portion and .having a; llass shelf -extending backward? toward t e service por- 10 I l tion, the glass Shel b eing interrupted to provide space for a serving device. I

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa., this 16th day of Aprii, 1924.

LLUTHER L. KNOX.. 

